If you’re looking for a new dentist, you know how frustrating it can be trying to weed the best providers of cosmetic and family dentistry out from those who you’d never want to take your family to. As statistics from IBIS World show, there are nearly 168,000 different businesses offering general and cosmetic dental procedures in the United States. We’re spoiled for choice.
And that’s really the problem, isn’t it? With so many different general dentists to choose from, we have no idea where to start. Who will give you great care without charging you too much? How do you know your provider actually has the skills you need? All of those questions and more are answered in our four point guide to finding a great general dentist.
Four Tips for Choosing a Quality, Affordable General Dentist
- Do They Offer Emergency Services?
- Look for Someone with American Dental Association Membership
- Prevention Focused Treatment, Interest in Patient Well-Being
- What is Their Specialty?
As the Sioux City Journal writes, you need to look for a dentist who offers emergency services. Why? If you break a tooth at home or you suddenly need to have a crucial procedure, namely a root canal, you need to know that your dentist can take care of the big problems right away.
Whether you’re looking for family dentists or someone who only works with adults, you really ought to look for American Dental Association membership. As ADA.org writes, dentists admitted into the ADA stick to a strict code of professional conduct and ethics, and they are bound by their commitment to stay current with all the latest dental practices and technologies. In short, a general dentist with membership in the ADA has been vetted as a quality provider of care.
As Quack-Watch.com, a well-known consumer advocacy group, points out, you should generally try a dentist out before you make a decision about the efficacy of their services. While taking your trial run, there is one main thing you should look at: their priorities. Are they trying to sell you the latest, most expensive cosmetic dentistry procedure that you don’t need, or are they more concerned with giving you a happier, healthier life? If your dentist seems like they’re just in it to make money, you know it’s time to find someone else.
This one should seem obvious, but it bears repeating. Imagine, if, God forbid, you were diagnosed with cancer, would you seek out a general practitioner of medicine or someone with specialized training as an oncologist? The same principle holds true in dentistry. As WebMD writes, you need to ask about your general dentist’s qualifications before becoming their patient. If you’re looking for someone to whiten your teeth, for example, you should be looking for someone who specializes in cosmetic dentistry.
If you’re a dentist or dental hygienist, do you have any other recommendations for our readers? Let us know in the comments below. More info like this.
